News

Friday, March 3, 2017

USCIS Will Temporarily Suspend Premium Processing for All H-1B Petitions

Starting April 3, 2017, USCIS will temporarily suspend premium processing for all H-1B petitions. USCIS will continue to premium process H-1B petitions if the petitioner filed Form I-907 before April 3, 2017. However, since Fiscal Year 2018 cap-subject H-1B petitions cannot be filed before April 3, 2017, this suspension will apply to all H-1B cap-subject petitions filed for consideration in this year's H-1B lottery. Suspension of premium procesing services will also apply to cap-exempt H-1B petitions.

This suspension may last up to six (6) months. While H-1B premium processing is suspended, petitioners will not be able to file Form I-907, Request for Premium Processing Service for a Form I-129, Petition for a Nonimmigratn Worker, which requests the H-1B nonimmigrant classifcation. While premium processing is suspended, USCIS will reject any Form I-907 filed with an H-1B petition.

This temporary suspension is aimed to reduce USCIS's overall H-1B processing times by processing long-pending petitions, and prioritizing adjudication of H-1B extension of status cases that are nearing the 240 day mark.

For inquiries regarding the temporary H-1B premium processing suspension, please contact the SIL attorney you are working with, or for general inquiries, please contact us at info@sostrinimmigration.com.